How to maintain a Colorado lawn from spring to autumn

Do not fertilize bluegrass and tall fescue during summer heat, as this causes excessive growth, frequent mowing and watering, and increased vulnerability to insects and diseases.

Aeration

Basic aeration is good for all lawns but should be done as soon as possible. Waiting longer can damage the young roots. Aeration helps to reduce unwanted stubble buildup. Water your lawn before airing if the lawn is not wet enough. The more plugs removed from the lawn are longer, the better. Try 3 inches. Aeration also reduces the need to rotate the rake.

You can let the corks get rid of themselves, grate them or break them by mowing them.

Raking power

This is not usually necessary on most lawns and can harm your lawn because it eliminates the sod alive. Consider the power of raking only if you have three quarters to one inch of the thatch layer. The best way to find out is to observe the plugs pulled during aeration. The stubble consists of brown grass, mostly dead, where the grass strand meets the roots. If you use a powerful rake, it is best to do it when the grass is dormant, in the fall or early spring. A shallow light sweep is appropriate for spring.

weeding

Ah, the plague of those who pursue the perfect lawn. If you have crabgrass, you can always be warned of the application of a pre-emergent herbicide. To be effective, it must be applied before seed germination. The crabgrass usually germinates from mid-April to mid-May. It is best to apply pre-emergent at least two weeks before these dates. Crabgrass and other weeds like dandelions can be sprayed or picked by hand now. If you are picking by hand, make sure you get as many roots as possible.

spray

It is best to water as deeply and as rarely as possible. To do this you need to know the amount of water to apply and the time it takes your sprinklers to apply that amount of water.

Place several shallow containers in different areas of your lawn and water them for 30 minutes. Measure in inches the depth of water accumulated in the containers and multiply it by two to determine the amount of water that your sprinkler emits in one hour.

In April and May, bluegrass lawns need about an inch of moisture, whether it's rain, snow or your watering system. In June, increase it to 1.25. In July, increase to 1.5, then call again when the temperature drops.

Seeding / overseeding

This is the right time to prepare places in your lawn where the grass could be dead due to dog sports or other problems. Dig the dead grass, cover the area with a bed of quality soil and sprinkle the seeds on the ground.

If your lawn is thin, sow too much, it can help. Make sure you get rid of the weeds. Ventilate the lawn so that the holes are spaced 2 inches apart, or turn the lawn in two directions to expose the soil. Match as much as possible the grass seed of the grass you have growing.

Place the seeds in two different directions and with a spreader at the recommended rate. Rake the seeded area slightly, fertilize and then make sure the soil is moist but not saturated during grass growth. Stay away from the lawn as much as possible and do not use herbicides until you have shorn a handful of times.

Follow these steps and you will love your lawn this summer without hating it.